24-Hour Friendly Market, Specializing in Dimensional Items - Chapter 133

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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24-Hour Friendly Market Specializing in Dimensional Items Episode 133

 

Episode 133. Gearsgard (4)

 

I sat down under a streetlight and spread out the map.

 

For having four cities, Aeteria’s map itself isn’t that large.

 

If the detection writing instrument worked properly, the Tower of Babel’s location should definitely be written on it.

 

If everyone in this dimension was aware of the Tower of Babel and had climbed it before, then surely.

 

I examined the map thoroughly with a serious expression.

 

“…It’s not here?”

 

But there’s nothing besides the four cities and Bernium, let alone the Tower of Babel.

 

There were remains of the Tower of Babel on the Ganashia continent on Floor 51 too.

 

On Floor 53’s Laoko, I didn’t have time to look for the Tower of Babel during the scenario, but since the Kraken said it had never seen it in that vast ocean, it was probably in a place that even the Laoko residents couldn’t discover.

 

The ocean is an endlessly vast place, so it’s natural that I, a mere human, couldn’t find it.

 

It was certain that it existed.

 

After all, the Kraken was influenced by the Tower.

 

But here there are four cities, and one mining island.

 

There are only those five regions where a tower could stand.

 

‘But it doesn’t make sense for it not to be on the map.’

 

I looked at the map carefully again, checking if there was anything I missed.

 

“No matter how I look, it’s not there.”

 

…Could it be floating in mid-air?

 

Even as I thought it, it seemed absurd, but considering Babel’s behavior, it’s not impossible.

 

But if it’s really floating in mid-air, how do I find it?

 

Finding a tower in the sky, which is even vaster than Laoko’s ocean, is so unrealistic that it makes me laugh bitterly.

 

If the area were small, I could use the Discoverer’s Eye to find it, but here…

 

I glanced outside the railing for a moment and shook my head.

 

‘You can’t hear crying next to squid fishing lights.’

 

If the two stick together nicely, at least they won’t be lonely.

 

Then a sudden realization flashed through my mind.

 

‘…Could it be that it’s not marked because this is viewed from above?’

 

The map is structured to show things as seen from above.

 

Though I called it a map, it’s essentially closer to a floor plan.

 

In other words, I can’t tell whether Gearsgard is higher or lower than the other islands.

 

Come to think of it, I don’t even know at what height each of the four floating cities and Bernium are located.

 

I only know the height from which squid fishing lights endlessly fall.

 

Of course, they could all be floating nicely side by side at the same altitude, but that’s too naive a thought.

 

What if the Tower of Babel is located directly below these four cities?

 

‘Then it might not appear on the map.’

 

Then there’s only one answer.

 

“I need to do some reconnaissance.”

 

If you want to survey an area, investigating the local residents first is the fastest way.

 

Even if they don’t know about the Tower of Babel, they should at least be able to tell me about the elevation of each city.

 

I quickly folded the map and put it in my inventory.

 

I dusted off my knees that seemed crushed into the shape of the stone floor and stood up, taking a light deep breath.

 

“…I guess there’s only one person to ask?”

 

Though he doesn’t seem like an easy opponent to deal with.

 

I inhaled sharply and pondered.

 

In the end, the method I chose was SOS.

 

[Yeonhee, go outside the Tower right now and do me a favor.]

 

If dwarves really have the same characteristics as in mythology, this method will definitely work.

 

* * *

 

Knock knock knock.

 

“Get lost!”

 

Anger dripped from the voice of the victim citizen who was suddenly knocked on in the middle of the night.

 

The loud roar that came from inside the workshop was clearly an order to leave.

 

Undaunted by this, I continuously knocked for a full 13 seconds.

 

“What the hell, weren’t you raised properly?!”

 

The workshop door burst open.

 

Brozen, who had become even more grimy with grease stains than before, frowned deeply as he looked up at me.

 

His eyes held an unfriendly look that said ‘Why are you here?’

 

I smiled with the most harmless-looking face I could manage.

 

“Hello, Mr. Brozen.”

 

“Get lost.”

 

Just as he was about to close the door as if there was nothing more to see, I quickly stuck my foot in.

 

Having failed to drive away the unwelcome guest, Brozen glared at me with an even more menacing expression.

 

“I came here to tell you something good.”

 

“I don’t believe you.”

 

Huh, that’s a strangely familiar rejection.

 

‘…Are there scammers here too?’

 

For a moment, I felt the familiar atmosphere of Korea and pulled myself together again.

 

Barely withstanding the dwarf’s powerful force pushing against my foot stuck in the slightly open door gap, I pushed my face through the crack.

 

Startled by my face suddenly appearing, Brozen flinched and stepped back.

 

“I’m not trying to tell you something strange, I really want to treat you to something precious, Mr. Brozen.”

 

“How can I trust the words of an outsider?”

 

“Mr. Brozen is my life’s savior. How could I dare harm Mr. Brozen?”

 

“Hah, when did I ever?”

 

“You helped me earlier, didn’t you? You could have just left me alone, but you kindly hid me in your workshop so I wouldn’t get caught by the soldiers.”

 

“Hmph, that was just because it seemed like it would become troublesome. I have nothing more to say, so get out of my workshop.”

 

Strictly speaking, I hadn’t even entered the workshop.

 

I felt a bit wronged, but I had decided to maintain the concept of being like an unbreakable weed that bends but doesn’t break.

 

Instead of obediently retreating, I took out something heavy from my inventory.

 

Brozen’s eyes lost their composure and wavered when he saw what I had taken out.

 

“I prepared this with a grateful heart.”

 

I shamelessly stuck my arm through the door crack so he could see what I was holding clearly.

 

The momentum that seemed ready to chase me away disappeared, and the strength left Brozen’s arms that had been gripping the door.

 

I grinned and whispered.

 

“Just smell it once.”

 

Brozen opened his mouth blankly upon seeing the high-quality whiskey.

 

He maintained his gruff attitude toward me, but his gaze was fixed on the transparent golden liquid swirling inside the glass bottle.

 

I swallowed the laughter that was about to escape and slightly lifted the bottle.

 

Brozen’s eyes naturally followed the bottle’s movement.

 

‘I knew this would happen.’

 

It was a moment when the well-known stereotype about dwarves worked.

 

A heavy drinker who loves alcohol so much that he drinks until it drips down his beard.

 

The fact that I could even propose a negotiation with this was absurd to begin with, but for me, wasn’t this a golden opportunity?

 

‘I figured it out when you downed that beer in one shot earlier.’

 

I muttered while breaking the seal.

 

“This is the finest liquor from my hometown, with only 50 bottles produced per year. It’s been aged for a long time in barrels made with the purest high-grade mana.”

 

The latter part was a lie.

 

Of course, the former part was also complete bullshit.

 

This was whiskey you could buy at any mart.

 

Well, it was the most expensive one among them, but it was something you could buy anytime, anywhere, even at a world beer discount store.

 

But Brozen, who had only been drinking flat, lukewarm beer in the underground workshop of Gearsgard, wouldn’t know that.

 

I opened the bottle cap and subtly brought it near Brozen’s nose.

 

“The aroma is incredibly rich. Try smelling it once.”

 

The moment I brought the bottle to Brozen’s nostrils.

 

Brozen slowly closed his eyes and inhaled as if he were under a spell.

 

And soon his lips stretched into an ecstatic smile.

 

‘This is working.’

 

I suppressed the urge to cheer and showed consideration for the dwarf’s blissful moment.

 

After savoring the aroma for quite a while, Brozen stammered as he opened his mouth.

 

“Th-this is… what kind of alcohol is this?”

 

“This is…”

 

Having lived without much money, I hadn’t had much experience drinking whiskey.

 

Still, I know what kind of whiskey this is.

 

In college, there was a senior who only received everyone’s contempt, but he brought this whiskey to MT, and for just that one day, he enjoyed the greatest popularity.

 

I don’t remember everything about that senior, but if there’s one thing I uniquely remember, it was his boastful tone when describing the whiskey.

 

What was it again, something about almonds and caramel and whatnot.

 

I decided to shamelessly add some imagination.

 

“If you smell it carefully, rich almond and caramel aromas rise up. The first taste is smoky and the lingering flavor in your mouth at the end is characteristically sweet. If you hold it in your mouth and breathe in, you can even smell hints of stir-fried pork and potato chips.”

 

“What kind of scent is stir-fried pork?”

 

“It’s a spice that only exists in our dimension.”

 

Since it’s alcohol I only drank once a few years ago, my description lacks detail, but what does that matter.

 

Anyway, Brozen doesn’t know stir-fried pork and potato chips, and he’s got a dazed look on his face, about to stick his nose right into the bottle.

 

I subtly took one more step into the workshop and asked.

 

“How is it?”

 

At that moment, Brozen startled and flew into a rage.

 

“You think I’ll fall for alcohol like this!”

 

Honestly, if you’re going to get that angry, at least look away.

 

His face was stern as he burst into anger, but his gaze was still glancing back and forth between my face and the whiskey bottle.

 

‘There’s absolutely no persuasiveness.’

 

But I could clearly see him conflicted, half thinking I’d be a bother, half wanting to try this alcohol right away.

 

At times like this, you just need to give a subtle push and the problem is solved.

 

“Then how about this?”

 

I leaned forward slightly and quietly suggested.

 

“You and I have a drinking contest. We take turns drinking one glass at a time.”

 

The second characteristic of dwarves: they never back down from a drinking contest.

 

‘It’s also commonly called die-die.’

 

Brozen laughed as if amazed that a human would propose a drinking contest.

 

“Ha, are you looking down on dwarves?”

 

“Of course not. I just happen to be confident with alcohol too, and originally alcohol isn’t meant to be drunk alone, right?”

 

“Ha, really.”

 

He let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded, but Brozen seemed to have already made up his mind.

 

His body that had been blocking the door had already moved aside, and now even the workshop door was wide open as if to say I could come in.

 

I stepped forward without hesitation and said.

 

“If Brozen wins, I’ll give you one more bottle of this whiskey.”

 

“…What?”

 

“Instead, if I win, Brozen will answer any question I ask.”

 

This was the key point.

 

Brozen is the only person I can get information from right now without arousing suspicion.

 

Going in and out of This Floor to perfectly understand the atmosphere and gather information would be a waste of time.

 

Broken knows I’m an outsider but didn’t report me.

 

He even helped hide me.

 

In that sense, if I can just persuade Brozen, he’d be the best source of information.

 

Brozen, who had been maintaining a grim expression the entire time, shook his head.

 

“5 bottles.”

 

“2 bottles.”

 

“4 bottles.”

 

“Let’s make it 3 bottles.”

 

The negotiation was dramatically concluded.

 

Brozen relaxed his expression, grinned broadly, and took a step back.

 

Now this was a proper welcome greeting.

 

As I smiled back and stepped inside, Brozen muttered with laughter in his voice.

 

“Don’t regret it. You’ll have to pay the price for underestimating a dwarf.”

 

“That’s my line.”

 

Brozen paid no mind to my provocation and began preparing the battlefield on the table.

 

‘I don’t know what dwarves’ main specialty is, but I’ve never lost a drinking contest anywhere.’

 

For now, I planned to clash head-on with pure grit, without Skills or items.

 

Let’s see if Brozen, who was drinking beer, can still talk the same way after drinking 45-proof liquor.

 

Just as I was heading to the table without any intention of buying hangover remedies from the market.

 

Sam-i, whom I hadn’t called for, arrived with news like a bolt from the blue.

 

[⁕ Dwarves’ daily average alcohol purchase volume at the market is 10 bottles based on 10-proof moonshine :)]

 

[⁕ Converted to Earth units, 1 bottle of moonshine is a total of 2L :)]

 

‘…Wait a minute.’

 

What was that about alcohol purchase volume?

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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